A last-ditch attempt to push Atlanta educators accused of cheating off the payroll has so far failed to convince many to resign, partly because they have little incentive to go.

That means taxpayers will be on the hook for what is shaping up to be a costly firing process. The district has spent $6.2 million paying the salaries of suspended educators, an expense that increases $600,000 a month. Legal fees have cost the district at least $700,000 and will likely climb as APS attorneys work to build cases against about 120 educators still on the payroll. Those fired may be entitled to employment hearings, which average $9,000 a person.

Last week, APS met with about 60 educators who face the most egregious allegations to put an offer on the table: Quit now and avoid receiving a charge letter, the first step in the firing process, and one that can stain an educators career. Five educators have taken the deal, according to APS.

Other employees are considering the offer, said a district spokesman. APS said expected it would take some employees time to make a decision. In the meantime, the district plans to issue charge letters on a case-by-case basis. Superintendent Erroll Davis said Friday the district will start with those who confessed, and other egregious cases.

Absolutely! It’s that any of these scam artists are still employed is beyond the pale and proof positive of the abject failure of politicians to guard the People’s interests, the children’s interests, against those of the Big Labor unions and culture of corruption fostered within.

You have to appreciate how bad the Fulton County DA’s office is to understand why criminal prosecution will not happen. Any kind of white collar criminal prosecution - they seldom have the resources for. It means that a lot of crimes which take resources (forensic accounting, lots of evidence/exhibits, etc.) to prosecute get dead-docketed (diverted from prosecution). Atlanta is a mess in so many dimensions.

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